Antoine alphonse chassepot



' 'To wHoM 1T MAY CON-CERN;

nitzh tatzsattentv ffitz.

ANTOINE ALPHONSE GHASSEPOT, 0F PARIS, FRANCE. L 'Leamrm`m eassa'daaa January 1, 1861.

dit: Stimuli :stemt tt it. lhtsrptitrrt @anni am making part si It: same.

Be it known that 1*,AN10INn.ALPHoNsEfCnAssEPMg of Paris, in the empire of t France, have invented certain new and.useful Improvements in Breach-Loading Fire-Arms; and I hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the samegreference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My inventionmelates to`that class of breech-loading fire-arms, knownfas needle guns, or guns in which the fulminan't of the` cartridge is ignited by thrusting in it a needle; and its` obj'ect is to simplify and at the same time to improve the construction and arrangement of the operative mechanism of such arms, so that they may be, loaded or charged and iired with perfect ease, and with` great rapidity and safety, avoiding all the drawbacks and defects by which ordinary breech-loaders, by reason of their elaborate and' complicated structure, arecharacterized.' .y it J In order to cary cut my invention, I make in theV top ofthe breech-receiver a longitudinal opening, which extends the whole length of the breech-piece and formsa continuation of the barrel. In this opening slides a tubular or' hollow cylindrical bolt or breech, which forms the principal and most important feature of the operative mechanism. The forward end of the bolt has attached to, and inserted in it, the mechanism for closing the charge chamber against the escape of gases generated by the explosion of the charge, the same consisting of a sleeve or sheath surrounding the needle, and capable of a limited sliding motion -within the hollow bolt,

Varound which a picece or washer of nvulcanized rubber is placed, and held between thefront end' of the bolt and a cap formed on that end of the sheath which projects from the bolt, The pressure of the gases at the moment of explosion will effect the instantaneous compression of the rubber by the sliding cap, and thus cause it to expand laterally, completely packing the end of the charge chamber in 'which it fits, and'preveuting .all escape of gases. Within the tubular'bolt'is a rod which carries the' needle, and the spring by which it is actuated. It is connected with and forms part of the hammer or cock, which, like Ithe rod, is only capable'of'a longitudinal .or sliding motion on-the axis of the bolt. Upon the top of the bolt I secure a projecting piece-provided withy a lever handle, by which the bolt'may be turned in andfwithdrawn from the opening in which it moves. Thisprojecting piece,"when the charge chamber is closed, .and the gun ready to beiired, is turnedr so as to fit in an opening or recess in the right-hand side of the breech, and forming-part of the opening in the top of the breech above referred to; and it thus holds the bolt in position and prevents its recoil when the charge is ignited.

The bolt is, besides, provided with various slots of different length'formed inl its exterior surface, the functions of whchfwill be hereafter described. A

l Having indicated, in a general way, the arrangement of the operative mechanism of my improved arm, I' will now proceed to describe morel particularly the nature, construction, and function of 'its constituent partsr by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the iire-arm.` Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the axis of the gun. Figure 3 isa plan view.

Figures-4 and 5 are detailed views of thecock and tubular bolt; the former figure shows them in elevation, and the latter in a rear end view of the bolt, with thehammer and its rod detached.

Figure 6 is an exterior view of the cartridge; and Figure 7 is alongitudinal central section of the same. I. Beforelenteriug, however, on a. description of the other parts of the arm, I desire first to explain the 'methodof preventing the .escape of the gases generated by the ignition of the charge. The chargechamberis,

under they action of the charge, tightly `closed by the,instantaneous compression of a washer, a, interposed between the front end of the bolt, B, and the cap, c, of the sheath, C, which is capable of sliding and revolving` on the axis of thev bolt, (tig. 2.) The rubberr a,\aud cap, c, are a little less in. diameter than the breech in which they fit, so as to facilitate the play of the bolt B. On the other hand, the forward end, la, of the bolt ought to approach, as near as possible, the interior diameter of the breech. At the moment when the charge is exploded, the sliding cap, c, is pressed upon the rubber, a, withsuch force, that the latter will expand laterally,

and hcrmetically close the barrel and prevent all escape of gas through the breech. After the charge has left `the barrel,- the elastic washer, a; will retake lits original proportions. `This rubber should be `in three layers',

intimately united, and of different degrees of hardness, the middle layer being of great elasticity, but, at the same time, harder than Athe ordinary vulcanized rubber of commerce; the other two layers being of such hardness as to have no tendency to ily off and clog the other parts of the mechanism when the piece is fired.

II. The operative mechanism of the fire-arm is composed of the following parts: .1. The breech-receiver: The breech-receiver D is screwed to the barrel E. It has an opening in its top,

extending throughout its whole length, and of such size as to allow the projecting or recoil piece, bl, of the breech, B, to slide therein, (figs. 1, 3, and 4.) An opening or recess, d, made in its right-hand side, and forming part of the opening just named, permits the introduction or delivery of the cartridge into the barrel', its rear end, dl, at the same time forming a shoulder or recoil bearing for the projecting piece b, when ,the bolt is revolved so as to bring the said piece within the recess d. The lock is composed of two pieces, AG' H, whose contiguous ends are fastened together or linked by a screw, g. They are actuated by the spring I. One of these pieces Gr projects up into the interior gf the receiver D, whilst the lower extremity h, of the piece H, has its, axis of rotation at -h, and is held by the tumbler spring I in contact with the trigger IJ. The piece H is thus in reality a, lever pivoted at L, and when its long arm h is pressed up by the trigger, its short arm is depressed or lowered in a corresponding degree drawing down with it the tumbler or sere G, thus unlocking ythe hammer and allowing it to obey the action of its spring M.

2. lThe tubular bolt: The bolt or breech B is the piece with which Iall Athe other operating parts are connected; it serves to open and close the charge chamber, and is represented in detail in figs. 4 and 5. The recoil piece' b1,- projecting from the body of the bolt, assures it in position at the moment when the charge is exploded. The handle or lever b2, extending out at right angles to the projecting piece bl, serves to move the bolt in its socket, and is besides useful to rest the musket upon the arm. The front end of the bolt receives the mechanism for preventing 'the escape of the gases, consisting of the rubber a, and movable sheath C. In its rear end two longitudinal slots z'and y', lig. 4, are formed, which limit the movement of the hammer and needle, the one, z', corresponding to the half cock of ordinary firearms, the other, j, to the full cock. A longitudinal slot, b3, on thc side of the bolt opposite to the recoil piece b1, allows the tumbler Gr to pass when the bolt is drawn out from the breech; and the front end of a longitudinal slot, formed in the right-hand side of and extending about half-v way to the front end of the bolt, serves to stop the bolt and to prevent its complete withdrawal from the breech so long as the screw e1 is in' place. The position of these slots is shown more fully in fig. 5. Within and near the front end of the tubular bolt B, is rigidly secured a disk or partition, K, which separates the sliding sheath C from the other mechanisms contained within the bolt, and protects them from the gases generated by the-ignition of the charge. l

3. The movable head or sheath C operates on the axis of the bolt B, as hereinbefore explained. It causes Vthe rubber a to pack the rear endoi the charge chamber when the load is discharged. The piece C is held in` the bolt B, by a screw, c1, (iig. 3,)tho end of which projects through the bolt and into agroove, a, formed in the periphery of the sheath, of such size as to allow the latter to have both a sliding and rotary motion on the axis of the tubular bolt B, and barrel E. That part, c?, of the sheath which projects out from the cap or.collar, c,

serves to keep in rear of the cartridge an empty space, intend for the expulsion and combustion of the residnum of the cartridge case which may remain in the barrel after the ignition of the charge. The chamber k1, `formed in the rear of the projecting part c, of the sheath, is intended to' prevent the gases from injuring the needle, which, unless this partition were formed, would be a'ected injuriously throughout its whole length.

I 4. The cock or hammer: The cock is composed of four pieces united solidly together. These pieces are the hammer proper, the roller f, catch fl, and rod f2, which carries the spiral main-spring The gun is cocked in a manner analogous to that employed in ordinary percussion arms, with this difference, that the hammer works orssl'ides back and ,forth in thc breech D, and bolt B, upon the axis of 'the'latten The forward part of the cock terminates in a projecting arm, f3, which has attached to its extremity a screw, f. This screw projects downward from the arm, and being so arranged as to be able to enter either of the two slots ij, when the f bolt is turned in its socket so as to bring them opposite it, preventsthe hammer 'from moving forward except when the bolt is thus turned. From this arrangement it follows that the cock (and consequently the needle) cannot operate to its full extent except at the moment when the screw f* is exactly opposite the largest slot j; this, however, cannot take place until the breech is completely closed, thus-obviatng all danger of accident from .premature explosion. It isl the same also with thehalf-cock slot e', which holds the' hammer in such position as to make it impossible for the needle to penetrate the cartridge. The rear portion of the hammer is formed into a head, by which it may be drawn back andpnt at full or half cock.' The 'slidingmo'tion of the hammer is facilitated by the additionof a roller, f, which will prevent friction of the hammer against the breech.- The catch or `projection f, engages with thetumbler G, and holds the hammer back when the piece is cocked.i The rod f2 conducts and guides the hammer and carries the main-spring. It is inserted in the tubular bolt B, and slides in a stepper or bearing, L, screwed to the rear face of the bolt. The tenon l, which projects from the rod and fits in a mortise 'Z1 in the stopper L, enables the latter to be unscrewed from the bolt, the-holding-screwf being iirst removed. Y l

5. The spiral main-spring M determines the force withwhich the needle shall penetrate the fulminant of the cartridge. It surrounds the spring-carrying rod f2, and bears'at one end against the stopper L, the otherend being held by the piece to which the end of the rodf2 is secured.

6. The needle ignites the fulminant of the cartridge. I It consists of a cylindrical steel the rear end of which extends through the partition K, and issecured irmly to the sliding or movable piece N, in aseat, n. The piece N is rigidly attached to the forward-end of the rodf in any suitable manner. It will be seen that the needle and springfcarrying rod are capable of a sliding motion on the axis of the vtubular bolt B, and that, if the hammer be drawn back, the needle will follow-its motion, and will finally be withdrawn entirely within the needle, as shown in iig. 4. When the lever b is turned to the right,'and the bolt withdrawn trom the breech, the hammer is no longer held back bythe tumbler G, but by the screw f, which -bears against the rear face of the bolt, as `can be seen in g. 4. As soon, however, as the bolt is pushed forward again and looked, the tumbler G againholdsthe hammer.

lhe movements in loading kthe piece are'as follows: '1. 'Cock the piece by drawing back the hammer. l

2. Turn the lever b, ('g. 3,) from right to left, and then draw back the bolt from the charge chamber. f 3.1 Deliver the cartridge 'to the charge chamber, introducing it through theopening d, in the rightlland sid'c of the breech. Y 4. YPush forward the bolt, and then 'turnrthe leirer'b2 from .left to right, 'so that it shall, asY beforc,`iit in the recess d.

The charge is now ready to be fired, which ,operation 'is accomplished by pulling on the trigger J which will cause the tumbler G to drop, and thusrelease the hammer. 4

In connection with the fire-arm thus arranged and constructed, I use a cartridge the details of the construction of which are shown in igs.6 and 7. It consists of a cylindrical case, u, of paper which contains the powder,

provided at each end with a pasteboad washer or disk, e and W. The fulminant 1' is contained in' a small-:copper cap,v g, 4which 'has `two little holes 4formed init through which the fulminant when ignited passes-to the powder. The cap g passes through the pasteboard-e, and is enclosed withi the paper case u. The top or front end ofthe cartridge case` is closed by a paper cap, thefends of which are secured in an dpening formed in the pasteboard disk 1W. The ball Z has a paper case, y, open at the bottom, which fits over the'top of the powder case u, and is tied thereto or otherwise secured in any suitable manner. The upper or ball endjofthe cartridge is then greased.

Having described my"-inventon,a'nd the manner in which the same is or may lbe carried into eect, what I claim,vand desire to secure by Letters'Patent, is as follows:

1*'. Ina breech-loading`re-arm, I claim the rigid connection between the needle-carrying rod and the cock or hammer by which the-said rod is operated and withdrawn from y the breeclrbolt,I substantially :1s/shown and setfortli.

2. I claim the combination with the tubular breech bolt of the needle rod and its rigidly attached cock o r hammer, and actuating spring, under such an arrangement that by the retraction ofthe said rod from the breech bolt the spring shall ybe compressed and the gun cocked, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. In combination with the needle-carrying rod, and the cock to which it isrigidly secured, I claim supporting and holding the 'spring which surrounds the needle rod between the fr ontend of the said rod, and the rear end of the breechbolt, substantially as shown and described. y

4. I claim 'the combination of the needle rod, and cock or hammer for operating the same, with a sliding and rotary breech bolt provided with slots, grooves, or-eqnivalent devices for limiting and determining the forward movfement of the said hammer and rod, as herein set (forth,

5. I claim the combination of the needle-carrying rod and its tenon l, with the plug onbolt screwed in the rear end of the breech bolt, and perforated and recessed for the reception'of the said rod and tenen, substantially as and for.y the purposes described. v

6. "In a'breech-loading fire-arm as herein described, claim the combinationwith the tubular bolt or breech sliding in the breech-receiver asspecied, of the movable'sheathor tube for receiving the needle, capable of a.

sliding and rotary motion upon the :axis of the said breech, substantially as-shown and set forth. 47. I claim interposing between the head of y the breech bolt and the angc formed on the movable needle sheath, a cylindrical disk or tube'nof vulcanized India rubber,l whose diameter is such as-to allow it to slide freely in and out of the charge chamber, but, at thesame time, to cause it to hermetically close the said chamberwhm compressed between the needle sheath and the breech bolt by the action of the gases generated by the' ignition of the charge, as herein shown and set forth. i o

In testimony whereof I have signed m/y name to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.

CHASSEPOT. Witnesses:

A. BLs'rRY,

F. F. RANDOLPH. 

